Pediatric Nursing: cram pack

Formula sheets, the key method steps for every topic and 6 practice problems, with full solutions at the back.

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1Formulas and methods

Pediatric nursing

Method

  1. Note the child’s age first: it sets the normal vital signs, the milestones and the right pain scale.
  2. Assess airway, breathing and circulation, remembering that children compensate and then deteriorate fast.
  3. Match the action to the development stage and involve the family.
  4. Check that the answer is safe for a child: weight-based, no aspirin in viral illness, no codeine under 12.

Pediatric & critical-care dosing

Daily dose
mg/day = mg/kg/day × weight (kg)
Doses per day
number = 24 h / dosing interval (h)
Pounds to kilograms
kg = lb / 2.2
Infusion concentration
units/mL = units in bag / bag volume
Pump rate
mL/h = dose per hour / concentration
Titrated drip
mL/h = mcg/kg/min × kg × 60 / (mcg/mL)
Dose from pump rate
mcg/kg/min = mL/h × (mcg/mL) / (60 × kg)
Units
1 mg = 1000 mcg

IV fluids & fluid balance

Holliday–Segar per hour
4 mL/kg (first 10 kg) + 2 mL/kg (next 10 kg) + 1 mL/kg (each kg above 20)
Holliday–Segar per day
100 / 50 / 20 mL/kg for the same bands
Fluid balance
intake − output
Ice chips
count as half their volume
Urine output
mL/kg/h = mL / (kg × h)
Infusion time
time (h) = volume left (mL) / rate (mL/h)
Volume infused
mL = rate × time

2Practice problems

1.Pediatric nursingMedium

Which source is a common cause of lead poisoning in young children?

  1. APlastic toys made last year
  2. BOld flaking paint and dust in older housing
  3. CBreast milk from a healthy, well-nourished mother
  4. DFresh fruit
2.Pediatric nursingHard

How should a child who is still drowsy after a tonsillectomy be positioned?

  1. ASitting fully upright with the head bent forward on the chest
  2. BProne with the face directly in the pillow
  3. CFlat on the back with the head tilted backwards
  4. DOn the side or semi-prone, so secretions can drain from the mouth
3.Pediatric & critical-care dosingMedium
heparin 1 000 units/mL60 units/kg · 48 kg → V = ? mL

Practice exercise (made-up values, not clinical guidance). A practice protocol calls for a heparin bolus of 60 units/kg for a patient who weighs 48 kg. The vial contains 1 000 units/mL. What volume V do you draw up? Round to one decimal place.

60 units/kg48 kg1 000 units/mL
V = mL
4.Pediatric & critical-care dosingHard
800 mg500 mLdopamine? mL/h56 kg5 mcg/kg/min

Practice exercise (made-up values, not clinical guidance). A bag contains dopamine 800 mg in 500 mL. The order is 5 mcg/kg/min for a patient who weighs 56 kg. At what rate R do you set the pump, in mL/h? Round to one decimal place.

800 mg/500 mL5 mcg/kg/min56 kg
R = mL/h
5.IV fluids & fluid balanceMedium
IntakeOutput8-hour shiftmilk200 mLjuice200 mLtea200 mLice chips100 mLIV infusion50 mL/h × 8 hIV antibiotic1 × 50 mLurine250 mLurine225 mLurine275 mLwound drain100 mLvomit250 mL

Practice exercise (made-up values, not clinical guidance). The record shows a patient's intake and output for one 8-hour shift. The IV infusion ran at the rate shown for the whole shift. Find the total intake I in mL. Count ice chips as half their volume.

milk: 200 mLjuice: 200 mLtea: 200 mLice chips: 100 mLIV infusion: 50 mL/h × 8 hIV antibiotic: 1 × 50 mL
I = mL
6.IV fluids & fluid balanceHard
1000 mL100 mL infused60 mL/h10:00t = ? h

Practice exercise (made-up values, not clinical guidance). A 1000 mL bag runs by pump at 60 mL/h. At 10:00, 100 mL have already been infused. How many hours t until the bag is empty? Round to one decimal place.

1000 mL100 mL infused60 mL/h
t = h

3Solutions

1.Pediatric nursing

Answer: B · Old flaking paint and dust in older housing

Why this is the answer

Lead-based paint in older buildings, contaminated dust and soil and some imported products are common sources. Lead affects the developing brain, causing learning and behaviour problems.

Answer

B · Old flaking paint and dust in older housing
2.Pediatric nursing

Answer: D · On the side or semi-prone, so secretions can drain from the mouth

Why this is the answer

Until fully awake, the child lies on the side or semi-prone so that blood and secretions drain from the mouth rather than being swallowed or inhaled. Once awake, a more upright position is comfortable.

Answer

D · On the side or semi-prone, so secretions can drain from the mouth
3.Pediatric & critical-care dosing

Answer: V = 2.9 mL

Heparin and insulin infusions: concentration = units in the bag/bag volume (units/mL). Pump rate (mL/h) = units per hour/concentration, and units per hour = mL/h × concentration. For a weight-based order, units/h = units/kg/h × weight first. A bolus volume = units needed/vial strength. The numbers are for practice only; at the bedside always follow local protocols and have high-risk doses double-checked.

Units needed

60·48 = 2 880 units

Volume

V = 2880/1000 = 2.88 ≈ 2.9 mL

Answer

V = 2.9 mL
4.Pediatric & critical-care dosing

Answer: R = 10.5 mL/h

Titrated drips: first find the concentration in mcg/mL (mg × 1000/mL). For a weight-based order, mcg/min = mcg/kg/min × weight. Then mL/h = mcg/min × 60/concentration. Working backwards, mcg/kg/min = mL/h × concentration/(60 × weight). The numbers are for practice only; at the bedside always follow local protocols and have high-risk doses double-checked.

Concentration

800 mg = 800 000 mcg
800 000/500 = 1600 mcg/mL

Dose per minute and per hour

5·56 = 280 mcg/min
280·60 = 16800 mcg/h

Pump rate

R = 16800/1600 = 10.5 mL/h

Answer

R = 10.5 mL/h
5.IV fluids & fluid balance

Answer: I = 1100 mL

Intake and output: intake counts everything that goes in (oral fluids, IV infusions, IV medications and flushes, tube feeds); ice chips count as half their volume. Output counts urine, drains, vomit and other losses. Balance = total intake − total output; a negative balance is a net loss. The numbers are for practice only; at the bedside always follow local protocols and have high-risk doses double-checked.

Add the intake

oral: 200 + 200 + 200 = 600 mL
ice chips: 100/2 = 50 mL
IV infusion: 50·8 = 400 mL
IV antibiotic: 1·50 = 50 mL
I = 1100 mL

Answer

I = 1100 mL
6.IV fluids & fluid balance

Answer: t = 15 h

Infusion time: time (h) = volume to infuse (mL)/rate (mL/h); use the volume still left in the bag, not the bag size. Volume infused = rate × time. Convert decimal hours to hours and minutes with the fraction × 60 (0.5 h = 30 min, not 50 min). The numbers are for practice only; at the bedside always follow local protocols and have high-risk doses double-checked.

Volume left

1000 − 100 = 900 mL

Time

t = 900/60 = 15 h

Answer

t = 15 h

That is about 15 h 00 min, so the bag runs out at about 01:00.

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